Doyle v. Owens

I respectfully dissent. Although I agree with the majority that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in modifying the backup care provisions of the shared parental responsibility statement, the trial court did, in my opinion, abuse its discretion in ordering that the child’s surname be changed.

Pursuant to section 382.013(3)(c), Florida Statutes (2004), if a child’s mother is not married at the time of the child’s birth, the parent who will have custody of the child shall select the child’s given name and surname. As we have explained, “ ‘[T]o change the name of a minor ... is a…